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Monday, September 5, 2011

In 1999, a teenager named Kamui Shirō returns to Tokyo after a six-year absence. He comes to protect those dearest to him, Kotori and Fūma Monou, and fulfill his mother's dying wish of change fate. The end of the world is fast approaching as superhuman individuals gather and take sides in Tokyo, the battle site of Armageddon. Following Kamui's arrival the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth, the two factions in the final battle for humanity's future, vie for the young man's allegiance, convinced his power will assure their victory. The Dragons of Heaven are the first to contact Kamui. The Dragons of Heaven are guided by Hinoto, dreamgazer for the Legislature of Japan. They are the protectors of the kekkai(結界), spiritual barriers that hold the fabric of nature together. As long as the kekkai survive, Judgment Day is postponed. The Dragons of Earth are the counterpart to the Dragons of Heaven. Their mission is to unleash death and famine so the Earth can be cured of the plague of humanity. They were assembled by Hinoto's sister Kanoe, secretary to the Governor of Tokyo.

As Kamui is forced to choose between the two sides, he concludes he only wants to protect Kotori and Fūma, and becomes a Dragon of Heaven. At the same time, Fūma has a change of personality and becomes the "Kamui" from the Dragons of Earth as he was destined to be Kamui's opposite. In such awakening Fūma kills Kotori, and swears to kill Kamui. Deciding he wishes to bring Fūma back to normal, Kamui joins the Dragons of Heaven in their fight against the Dragons of Earth. Because of the issues regarding the manga's serialization, the plot from the series has yet to be concluded by Clamp.

The animated films and the TV series follow the manga's initial story and come to two different endings. In the film all the Dragons of Heaven and Earth die in the ensuing battles, leaving Kamui and Fūma as the last Dragons. In the final battle, Kamui decapitates Fūma and the film ends with Kamui crying why he ended killing his best friend. In the TV series, all the Dragons of Heavens lose their powers to create kekkai because of they lose their most important people leaving the Tokyo defenseless. As Hinoto commits suicide to stop her alternate self from attacking the Dragons of Heaven, Kamui goes to face Fūma. In the fight's outcome, Kamui is killed by Fūma, but uses his last forces to transform his body into a kekkai that protects the world from the change from the Dragons of Earth, and causes Fūma to return to his old self.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Kadokawa Shoten collected and published the individual chapters in 18 tankōbon volumes, with five chapters published in the book "All about Clamp". All but one or two final chapters have yet to be published. It has been adapted into a series of audio dramas, a 1996 animated feature film and a television series in 2001 with the two last ones produced by Madhouse. Viz Media published all the eigtheen volumes in North America, while the film and the TV series have released in DVDs by Manga Entertainment and Geneon, respectively.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Crimson Crusade

The Grandduke of Beaumont is a young noble, formerly imprisoned in Tur with his brother, Philip Pandragon. His true name is John Pandragon, but he forbids everybody from calling him by his first name, telling all to refer to him as Grandduke of Beaumont. After his imprisonment at a young age, he became ruthless and vengeful, and hates Tur with a passion. His ruthless methods and beliefs, which run contrary to his handsome and boyish features, have him at odds with many nobles, and have forced many of the people that serve him to second-guess their loyalty.

William Locksley is main advisor to Beaumont, and believes in the ideal of a strong monarchy called Machia-Vellism from Empire of Gaysir—something Pandragon hasn't had for a while. He believes Beaumont to be the ideal ruler—cold, calculating, and decisive. He is Beaumont's staunchest supporter, but even he is sometimes shocked by the malicious intents of Beaumont. He is a friend of Machia Velli, the Gaysir politician.

Joel Salisbury is an old knight that has served Pandragon for his entire life, and is an expert swordsman despite his old age. Having known Beaumont before his imprisonment, he is constantly concerned about the malice of Beaumont. Often, he provides the voice of reason, but is too loyal to openly oppose Beaumont.

Reonardo Elfinstone is a young mage that initially sides with Beaumont, but leaves him after he realizes that Beaumont desires to be a tyrant. A skilled mage in all aspects, he possesses a secret that, if exposed, would mark him for death.

The Duke of Heistings, originally named William Heistings, is the leader of the anti-Beaumont section of the nobles, and one of Beaumont's chief enemy. While not a weak man, he is cornered by a dark pact that he formed with a shrouded entity, and is ultimately not ruthless enough to defeat Beaumont.

Viola Heistings is William's daughter, and Beaumont's former lover. She is torn between her loyalty to her father, and her still passionate love for Beaumont. Her actions ultimately decide the result of the civil war between Beaumont and Heistings.

Friday, September 2, 2011

X(エックス,Ekkusu), also known as X/1999, is a Japanese shōjo manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona. It premiered in Monthly Asuka's May 1992 issue and ran there until the magazine's editors showed concern with the increasingly violent stories and the series went on long-term hiatus in March 2003. The story takes place at the end of days, in the year 1999. The series follows Kamui Shirō, a young esper who returns home to Tokyo after a six-year absence to face his destiny as the one who will determine humanity's fate. The series is a foray into apocalyptic fiction, it combines elements from various end of the world scenarios, both secular and religious, with its own mythos.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Shivan Scimitar

Saladin (formerly named Philip Pandragon, the Crownprince of Kingdom of Pandragon) is the 21 year old leader of a mercenary group Shivan Scimitar. A superb fighter and tactician, he is referred to as "the rising star of Tur." He was imprisoned in Tur when he was young as result of power struggle within the royal family of Pandragon. His true intention of staying in Tur was to find his little brother, but also to drag the civil war between Tur, so that his country Pandragon can have the upper hand in war.

Sapi Al Din is first son of the former sultan, Schleiman V, he is a friend of Saladin and has charismatic and liberal mindset. Saladin views him like an older brother, and Sapi Al Din views Saladin as a younger brother. With Saladin's help, he is eventually successful in reclaiming the Empire of Tur.

Sherazard is the younger sister of Sapi Al Din who take refugee to the Church of Angra for safety. Referred to as "the Saint of Mutanabi," she is revered by the masses as someone that is willing to help those in need. She has a tendency to become too emotionally attached to certain things which eventually do her harm.

Marzana, Mukhafa, and Valor the Evil Eye form Shivan Scimitar.

Yan Zisuka is the most prominent member of the Janissaries, the only warriors in Tur allowed to wield lightsabers. An exceptionally skilled fighter, she has met Saladin in the past, and vitally influenced him (albeit unintentionally). Her name is pronounced identically to Jan Zizka, the Hussite general.